Beyond Recognition

After decades struggling to protect sacred sites now engulfed by San Francisco’s sprawl, a Native woman and her allies discover a new path- to establish the first women-led urban Indigenous land trust. Shattering stereotypes, BEYOND RECOGNITION explores the quest to preserve one’s culture and homeland in a society bent on erasing them.

After decades struggling to protect her ancestors’ burial places, now engulfed by San Francisco’s sprawl, a Native woman from a non-federally recognized tribe and her allies occupy a sacred site to prevent its desecration. When this life-altering event fails to stop the development, they vow to follow a new path: to establish the first women-led urban Indigenous land trust. Shattering stereotypes, BEYOND RECOGNITION explores the quest to preserve one’s culture and homeland in a society bent on erasing them.

The film tells the inspiring story of women creating opportunities amid a system that fractures Native communities across the nation. Through cinéma vérité, interviews, and stunning footage of the land, BEYOND RECOGNITION introduces Corrina Gould, Johnella LaRose, and Indian People Organizing for Change as they embark on an incredible journey to transform the way we see cities. The film invites viewers to examine their own relationship to place, revealing histories that have been buried by shifting landscapes. BEYOND RECOGNITION points to the intersection of human rights, women’s rights, and environmental protection, spotlighting a California story that has national and worldwide resonance.

ABOUT THE PRODUCERSMichelle Grace Steinberg is an independent filmmaker based in Oakland, CA. Via Underexposed Films, Michelle creates documentaries that reveal underreported stories with an accountability to the communities most impacted by them. Her previous film, BURIED VOICES (2012), screened at film festivals and is used as curriculum at universities.

Michelle originally hails from Washington, D.C.; she received a Bachelor’s degree from Wesleyan University and a Master’s degree from the University of Bridgeport. Aside from filmmaking, Michelle is a nutritionist and herbalist at a Spanish bilingual free clinic that she began in 2009 at Street Level Health Project. Michelle is thrilled by the completion of BEYOND RECOGNITION and honored to have been a part of the collaborations it entailed. She looks forward to sharing this important story as widely as possible, while beginning to brainstorm her next film. When time permits, Michelle has also been known to play bass guitar and drums.

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Natural Heroes is an award-winning series seen on Public Television in the United States. Our mission is to celebrate independent filmmakers who turn their lens on our natural world, and to showcase encouraging, inspiring stories of people who are making positive differences for our environment.

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About

Natural Heroes is an award-winning series seen on Public Television in the United States. Our mission is to celebrate independent filmmakers who turn their lens on our natural world, and to showcase encouraging, inspiring stories of people who are making positive differences for our environment.